Counterpoising Collectivism, Performance-Related Pay and Industrial Relations in 'Greenfield' Sites

Abstract

This paper addresses some of the industrial relations ramifications of performance related pay (PRP) using empirical data from both new and longer established firms in the Republic of Ireland. Particular emphasis is placed on the adoption of PRP systems based on performance appraisal and the implications of such systems for collectivism in industrial relations. The paper concludes that the diffusion of such systems is indicative of increasing employer attempts to individualise the employment relationship and exclude union penetration. It is further argued that such PRP systems, irrespective of the motivation for their establishment, undermine the essence of collectivism and solidarity in industrial relations.

Keywords: industrial relations, trade union, performance related pay, collectivism, individualism, greenfield, brownfield, Ireland